An Australian choir touring the UK are to sing in Whittington to benefit local charities.

The unique concert will bring together the Orthopaedic Male Voice Choir (OMVC) and the Australian Welsh Male Choir (Côr Meibion Cymreig Awstralia) to help boost the funds of Hope House Childrens’ Hospices and the Orthopaedic Hospital's League of Friends.

As an additional bonus the concert will also feature pieces sung by the Brisbane born, international soprano Ayșe Göknur Shanal.

The Australians will perform at Whittington as part of their 2018 UK tour which sees them singing in a number of venues throughout the UK and ending as they take part in a 1,000 voice concert in the Royal Albert Hall.

Their musical director is the highly regarded, Melbourne-based Tom Buchanan.

In addition to his work with the AWMC Tom directs a number of other choirs and composes and arranges choral music.

He said: “We have been looking forward to, and practicing hard for, our 2018 UK tour. We will be singing in a number of widely varying venues from Scotland, throughout England and also Wales finishing in the iconic Royal Albert Hall.

"We are excited about our trip into Shropshire and are pleased that, together with our friends in the OMVC, we can help raise some money for these two local charities."

The concert marks the high-point in the OMVC’s 50th Anniversary Year.

Andy Young, chair of the choir added: “This is a tremendous way to mark 50 years of fundraising for local charities. Like us, the AWMC is a charitable choir made up of volunteers who love to sing and help other people. We are honoured to be able to host them for the evening and we are looking forward to entertaining a full house”.

Touring with the Australians is Ayșe Göknur Shanal, who has a truly prestigious pedigree.

The winner of numerous awards she has appeared as a guest artist with Opera Australia and Turkish State Opera. She has performed at the Aldeburgh Festival (UK) and the Sydney Festival, and has been featured as a soloist with the Symphony Orchestras of Sydney, Queensland, Melbourne, Adelaide, West Australia, and with the Australian Haydn Ensemble.

The concert will take place at St John the Baptist Church, Whittington, on Wednesday October 3 starting at 7.30pm. Admission is by ticket only which cost £10, and these may be obtained from the League of Friends Coffee Shop at the Orthopaedic Hospital or by contacting the OMVC via their contact page on the website www.omvc.org.uk